Veterinary Psychology

[Orthodox Bear]

Hey guys I'm a pre-dental student but I'm getting sick of the idea of looking in people's mouths all day and I'm looking to get involved in veterinary psychology. I was wondering if anyone is currently in this field and can help me get started. Also if anyone's parents are involved and already have a lucrative practice that maybe I can get in on, I'd really appreciate it!!! Please give me some input, thanks everyone!!!

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[hoodle]

what IS veterinary psychology? if you mean behavioral studies, you should get a PhD or a DVM... are you planning in integrating human dentistry with veterinary psych? How would that work?

I know there are plenty of specialists in behavior, but they're generally highly qualified in neuro, animal physiology in relation to behavior, or other relevant fields...

also, if you don't want to look in people's mouths, maybe dentistry isn't for you??

sorry i'm not more helpful. i'm just a bit confused ...

 

[Taenia]

Also, if anyone's parents are involved and already have a lucrative practice that maybe I can get in on,

Ummm, sorry to burst your bubble, but the terms "lucrative" and "veterinary" are not usually used in the same sentence. In my opinion, it seems you have tired of your current studies and are whimsically thinking you'd like to puruse the vet field.

Perhaps you should research a little more...

 

[HorseyVet]

I know there are plenty of specialists in behavior, but they're generally highly qualified in neuro, animal physiology in relation to behavior, or other relevant fields...

There really aren't that many boarded (or really otherwise) behavior specialists out there. Also they're not generally super concerned with physiology and neurology past what everyone needs to know as a practicioner. There are people who are board certified in neurology or internal medicine (which is more physiology than the other specialities). Also there are people who do a lot of work with performance animals, who would know more about excercise physiology in particular.

Physiology and neurology specialities, or even devoted interest really isn't at all something that goes hand-in-hand with behavior the way you seemed to want to indicate.

 

[hoodle]

There really aren't that many boarded (or really otherwise) behavior specialists out there. ...
Physiology and neurology specialities, or even devoted interest really isn't at all something that goes hand-in-hand with behavior the way you seemed to want to indicate.

I'm not sure about boards, but I do know that Cornell has a graduate field concentrating in behavioral physiology.

Here's the excerpt from http://www.vet.cornell.edu/oge/physiology/concentrations.htm:
Behavioral Physiology
Houpt, Katherine A.
vertebrate social behavior, especially reproductive behavior; hormones and behavior; avian behavior; sex differences and their development; neuroethology of sexual behavior; comparative sexual behavior and reproductive biology

Place, Ned
mammalian reproductive biology, with a focus on the life history trade-offs associated with the timing of hormone secretion and reproductive effort. I have studied sexual differentiation and mating behavior of spotted hyenas under semi-natural conditions, the seasonal reproductive endocrinology of yellow-pine chipmunks in the field, and most recently, the effects of photoperiod on reproductive aging in Siberian hamsters. I strive to pursue basic research that is integrative and comparative, while also being biomedically and ecologically relevant.

Regan, Elizabeth Adkins
vertebrate social behavior, especially reproductive behavior; hormones and behavior; avian behavior; sex differences and their development; neuroethology of sexual behavior; comparative sexual behavior and reproductive biology



I'm also going to be taking a seminar next semester entitled Hormones and Behavior, which is an advanced physiology course - so physiology does jump to mind when I think behavior! I really have no idea what formal training there is for behavioral experts.

Also, is behavior the focus of the original poster? I'm still not sure what veterinary psychology is...

 

[HorseyVet]

I'm also going to be taking a seminar next semester entitled Hormones and Behavior, which is an advanced physiology course - so physiology does jump to mind when I think behavior! I really have no idea what formal training there is for behavioral experts.

Also, is behavior the focus of the original poster? I'm still not sure what veterinary psychology is...

It probably depends on what sort of behavior one has in mind. When I posted I was thinking more from behavior mod and general "what animals do." Obviously hormones (which are endocrine/physio) do play a role with specific behaviors, especially if we're talking about breeding and related. Hormone influence itself on behavior is a lot more one-to-one. Looking at specifically wat stimulates said hormones (daylength, etc.) is another thing, which again would be more physiology, but not really clinical veterinary. Research sure, but in most cases you wouldn't have to be a vet to do it...a PhD in endocrinology/zoology would better serve you.

There are also drugs for OCD and separation anxiety that would require a working knowledge of neurochemistry to design, but not completely to implement/use once they are available. The actual finite mechanisms of numerous psychiatric drugs for humans are still considered to be "unknown." We know the pharmacological mechanisms, but not (offically) the link to change in behavior....it's a little semantical at times and I'm getting OT...

Anyway, I guess b/c the OP used the word "psychology" I was thinking more of the epi or macro level of behavior (cognition, etc.) which is less physiological in how it's studied. I know there are plenty of studies investigating the more difficult to explain behaviors (pseudo-altruism, etc) and feild studies that just want to see what particular animals are doing....but "psychology" just came off to me as "behavior mod."

 

[hoodle]

all this stuff is so fascinating... you're right, there is a total disconnect between knowledge and application in terms of brain and behavior. I really don't know very much about it - I'm really more of a cell bio/microbio type and know very little about more behavioral/neurobiological issues!

anyhow, i don't see how a degree in dentistry will help....